Governor Mitch Daniels Makes Indiana First State To Cut Off Planned Parenthood Funding

Could this be a signal that the Indiana governor is getting ready to declare a presidential run? By defunding Planned Parenthood he plays ball with the far right, as it’s already been demonstrated that tying Planned Parenthood to the abortion issues is a red herring.

“The principle involved commands the support of an overwhelming majority of Hoosiers,” Daniels said in a statement announcing his intention to sign the bill when it arrives on his desk in about a week.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana said in a statement it would file an injunction to “try to halt this alarming erosion of public health policy in our state.”

Organization president Betty Cockrum said Daniels’ decision to sign the bill was unconscionable and unspeakable.

“We will now suffer the consequences of lawmakers who have no regard for fact-based decision making and sound public health policy,” she said.

Besides ignoring the bulk of what Planned Parenthood does, Daniels risks losing $4 million in family planning funds available from the federal government.

Planned Parenthood says the bill could leave as many as 22,000 patients without access to Pap tests, birth control and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

The governor’s office said the law will affect 7 entities in Indiana that have a total of 34 locations in 21 counties.

It is clear there is only one thing that will encourage these right-wingers to do the right thing, and that will happen when they see that their anti-abortion, anti-reproductive rights, anti-union, anti-Medicare, anti-Medicaid, anti-Social Security policies will get them thrown out of power.